Northern Michigan University’s Alessandro Scialanga boots the ball during a previous Wildcats’ game. (Photo courtesy NMU)

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The Northern Michigan University men’s soccer team had the game tied until the final 6 1/2 minutes before St. Cloud State escaped with a 2-1 victory in both teams’ opening GLIAC game of the season on Saturday evening in Minnesota.

It was NMU’s first loss of the season as the Wildcats now stand 3-1-1 and St. Cloud is 3-2.

The Huskies struck first when reigning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week Philip Caputo scored his sixth goal of the season just over 10 minutes in.

He received a pass from teammate Andrew Holmes that split the Northern defenders down the right side and sprung the striker toward the goal, according to a game account provided by NMU Sports Information. Caputo fired with his right foot low and across the body of outstretched Northern netminder Nils Cedergren into the bottom left corner.

The Wildcats produced plenty of chances to tie the score later in the first half, earning three corner kicks and keeping the ball in the St. Cloud end a majority of the first 20 minutes.

The Huskies had their first corner kick with about 10 minutes left in the opening half, but Cedergren denied an opportunity as both he and SCSU goalie Ramy Atia had one save before intermission.

A free kick from just outside the 18-yard box less than three minutes before the break failed to even the game for NMU. The shot by the Wildcats’ Alessandro Scialanga deflected and went to teammate Jan Hoffmann, but the strike didn’t find the net.

Northern didn’t let up to start the second half, according to NMU SI, earning several free kicks and an early chance when Davian Gumbs’ header hit Atia’s chest about five minutes in.

Less than a minute after that, Hoffmann played a perfect swinging pass to switch the field and find Scialanga, according to NMU SI.

Scialanga made one touch before firing home a screamer with his left foot into the bottom right corner, giving the sophomore defender his third goal in two games.

NMU went for the lead, as in the 67th minute, Hoffmann ripped a shot on goal that the Huskies keeper saved. With Atia unable to corral the ball, Northern’s Teun Van Gansewinkel found the rebound, but his shot was deflected by a defender, giving the Wildcats a corner kick.

St. Cloud held it together until the 84th minute when the Huskies scored the winner after a free kick was delivered into the NMU box. The ball took several deflections before landing on the foot of Matthew Greenland, who put the ball on target and beat Cedergren.

Scialanga moved to eight points this season on three goals and two assists, while Cedergren finished with five saves.

St. Cloud finished with a 13-7 advantage in total shots and 7-4 in shots on goal. But NMU had a slight advantage in corner kicks, 5-4, and the Huskies were called for one more foul, 10-9.

NMU returns home after this short, one-game road trip to host GLIAC foes Purdue Northwest at 3 p.m. Friday and Wisconsin-Parkside at 2 p.m. Sunday at the NMU Soccer Field.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.